Grading the 2017 New Orleans Saints by position: Running back

Grades for the 2017 New Orleans Saints roster should produce far more favorable marks than last year. And the year before that. And the year before that.

Numerous players excelled across the field to propel the Saints to their first playoff appearance since 2013 and first NFC South title since 2011. From veteran players to rookies, the Saints roster overall played far above average throughout the 2017 campaign.

Will there be a couple of players to ruin the curve? Yes. It happens every year.

I’ll dive into each position group and give my final grades.

Mark Ingram TD, Saints host Falcons 2017

David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

Mark Ingram

Ingram only gets better with age, with the 28-year-old tailback playing his best NFL season in 2017.

He ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing with 1,124 yards, tied for fourth in yards per carry at 4.9 and second in rushing touchdowns with 12. Ingram made all this happen despite the presence of Alvin Kamara. It’s all impressive and led to a Pro Bowl nod.

Ingram will enter the final year of his contract in 2018 and he’ll turn 29 in late December. Ingram’s success should continue despite growing older thanks to the lack of wear and tear on his body.

Grade: A

Alvin Kamara TD in the 4th, Saints vs Vikings NFC divisional playoff

David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

Alvin Kamara

I figured the Saints would try to use Kamara like Reggie Bush and Darren Sproles. I never would have thought that Kamara would thrive more than either one of those players in his rookie year.

Kamara earned the league’s offensive rookie of the year honor in a hotly contested race among such contenders as Kareem Hunt and Leonard Fournette. The Saints' third-round pick gathered more than 1,500 yards combined rushing and receiving and 13 total touchdowns. Kamara also picked up a 106-yard touchdown return at Tampa Bay.

He earned a Pro Bowl spot with Ingram, which goes to show the Saints tout the most dynamic group of running backs in the league.

Grade: A

Edmunds 41-yd TD: Saints at Bills 2017

Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

Trey Edmunds

The undrafted rookie became one of the bigger surprises to land on the 53-man roster after the last training camp cuts. He served his special teams role quite well in his first season.

Edmunds tallied seven special teams tackles, which tied him for second on the team with Chris Banjo. He even added a 41-yard touchdown scamper to finish off Buffalo in Week 10.

Grade: B minus

Zach Line TD celebration, Bucs host Saints 2017

David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

Zach Line

New Orleans added the veteran Line once John Kuhn suffered a season-ending biceps injury. The Saints' ground game didn’t miss a beat with Line paving the path for the tailbacks.

Line also rushed seven times for 28 yards and caught a touchdown pass. Line added a rushing score in the Saints’ NFC wild-card win against Carolina.